Bayonet-mounting means for sliding drawers

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a bayonet mounting means in combination with a drawer-slide device used in conjunction with file and desk drawers. The drawer-slide device is of the type having oppositely-disposed rails operably interconnected by ball rollers wherein one rail is fixedly attached to the side of a drawer, while the opposite rail is removably attached to the inner cabinet frame by means of bayonet, spring-loaded clips formed as an integral part of the removable rail by stamping out, at each end thereof, a main finger and at least one limiting rib member. One bayonet clip is positioned in a horizontal plane while the oppositely-disposed clip is positioned vertical to the center line of the rail, and each clip is adapted to be removably received in slots formed in the frame of the file cabinet or desk, thereby providing a simple and easy method of installing desk and file drawers in their related structures.

Barber [11] 3,771,849 Nov. 13, 1973 BAYONET-MOUNTING MEANS FOR SLIDING DRAWERS [75] Inventor: Lloyd L. Barber, Santa Ana, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Standard Precision Inc., Santa Fe Springs, Calif.

22 Filed: Mar. 6, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 231,965

2,594,571 4/1952 Lundberg 312/350 2,822,232 2/1958 Lhota 312/341 R 2,815,649 12/1957 Angelus.... 312/350 2,686,704 8/1954 Wolters 312/350 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 17,522 /1899 Great Britain 74/242.12 362,193 7/1962 Switzerland 312/350 Primary Examiner-Charles J. Myhre Assistant Examiner-R. H. Lazarus Att0rneyJ. Carroll Baisch [.57] ABSTRACT There is disclosed a bayonet mounting means in combination with a drawer-slide device used in conjunction with file and desk drawers. The drawer-slide device is of the type having oppositely-disposed rails operably interconnected by ball rollers wherein one rail is fixedly attached to the side of a drawer, while the opposite rail is removably attached to the inner cabinet frame by means of bayonet, spring-loaded clips formed as an integral part of the removable rail by stamping out, at each end thereof, a main finger and at least one limiting rib member. Onebayonet clip is positioned in a horizontal plane while the oppositelydisposed clip is positioned vertical to the center line of the rail, and each clip is adapted to be removably received in slots formed in the frame of the file cabinet or desk, thereby providing a simple and easy method of installing desk and tile drawers in their related structures.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BAYONET-MOUNTING MEANS FOR SLIDING DRAWERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to bearing-type drawer slides and, more particularly, to a quick-connect and disconnect means, in combination with a slide, to provide easy removal or insertion of drawers in file cabinets and the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art As is well known in the art, various problems and difficulties are and have been encountered with respect to inserting and removing file drawers from file cabinets or desks. Removal of drawers for adjustment or relocation, sometimes with their contentsstill disposed therein, creates problems, particularly with those individuals who are not acquainted with the construction of office equipment, wherein damage to the equipment, as well as injury to the individual, are most probable. Due to the complicated devices relating to slides for removing drawers from file cabinets and the like, it is generally necessary to remove all the material stored therein. This is time consuming and messy.

Therefore, to the applicants knowledge, there is no device available whereby a drawer is provided with a simple device, in combination with the drawer slide, that makes it possible for anyone to remove drawers from cabinets or desks in a quick and easy manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention discloses a drawer-slide device including a quick-connect and disconnect means which is formed as an integral part of the slide. The slide herein described comprises the type having oppositelydisposed, horizontal rails adapted to be operably mounted to each other by ball-bearing rollers disposed therebetween, whereby each rail is capable of moving relative to the other. Generally,-one rail is fixedly secured to the drawer while the second, outer rail is provided with a quick-connect and disconnect means formed as an integral part thereof. This means includes a pair of bayonet, spring-loaded clips positioned at opposite ends of the second, outer rail. One' bayonet clip is formed in a vertical relationship to the center line'of the rail while the second bayonet clip is formed in a horizontal relationship thereto. The slide device is secured to each side of a drawer, wherein the bayonet clip closest the inserting end is provided with a springloaded, main finger stamped therein which extends rearwardly in a horizontal plane, together with at least one limiting rib member. This clip is inserted into a slotted opening provided in the cabinet frame. As the first horizontal clip is installed, the limiting rib or ribs engage the adjacent edge of the slot, limiting further inward movement of the slide and drawer. At this point, the second bayonet clip is directly in line with the forward slotted opening, also provided in the framework of the file cabinet or desk. However, this clip is formed with a depending, spring-loaded finger which is clipped within the forward slot at right angles to the rail center line by lowering the front of the drawer downwardly until the adjacent limiting means engages the lower edge of the slot. The limiting means consists of at least one depending rib member which has sufficient length whereby, when the rib engages the edge of the slot, the slide device is disposed in a secure,

level, horizontal plane. The reverse is true, however, when the drawer is to be removed. The drawer is lifted upwardly and pulled outwardly, disengaging easily the bayonet clips for removal of the drawer.

Therefore, the present invention provides a means whereby drawers to be installed in desks, file cabinets and the like can be readily received and supported therein in a simple and efficient manner.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 'The present invention has for an important object a provision whereby a drawer having a slide attached thereto can be inserted or removed from a cabinet or the like by a simple, quick-connect and disconnect means.

It is another object of the presen invention to provide a quick-connect and disconnect, drawer slide which includes bayonet-type, spring-loaded clips.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a quick-connect and disconnect, drawer slide that is capable of being removed when said drawer is still loaded with material.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of this character that is easy to operate under various working conditions.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a device of this character that is easy to service and maintain.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a device of this character that is simple and rugged in construction.

'A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character that is so simple and easy to install that a substantial reduction in the cost of installation results therefrom.

Other characteristics, advantages and objects of this invention can be more readily appreciate from the following description and appended claims. When taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, this description forms a part of the specification wherein like references and characters designate corresponding parts in several views.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the slide rail having the present invention formed therein;

FIG. 2 is a side-elevational view of the invention attached to a frame member of a cabinet;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a drawer-slide device 10 comprising a pair of operably-disposed rails 12 and 14, respectively. Rail 12 will hereinafter be referred to as the first or inner rail, and rail 14 will be referred to as the second or outer rail. The first rail 12, as shown in FIG. 3, is fixedly secured to the side 16 of a drawer adapted to be received within a cabinet or desk (not shown). This first rail 12 is generally smaller in width than the second rail 14 and is provided with bearing runways 18 in which ballbearing rollers 19 are movably disposed. These ballbearing rollers act as a means for operably attaching the two rails together by movably interconnecting each rail through runways 18 of rail 12 and runways 20 of the second enlarged rail 14. To effect a more efficient movement between each rail, a bearing-spacing means 22 is provided to control the space between each adjacent bearing roller 19.

Rail 14, as seen in FIG. 1, is provided with a substantially-flat, elongated wall 24 to which there is defined a front end 26 and a rear end 28. Said front end 26 is that end which is positioned relative to the front end of a drawer, and said rear end 28 is positioned relative to the rear end of the drawer or the end of the drawer that enters the cabinet first when inserted therein.

In the past, outer rail 14 has been permanently affixed within a cabinet or the like by various means, such as bolts or screws passing through holes provided in wall 24 of said rail. Because of this type of mounting, difficulties are encountered when there arises a need to remove a file drawer. Therefore, the present invention provides a means whereby file drawers can be readily removed and replaced in a very simple operation. This means comprises a pair of bayonet, spring-loaded clips disposed adjacent each end 26 and 28 of the outer rail The bayonet clip, generally indicated at 30, disposed adjacent the rear end 28 is formed as an integral part of wall 24 by being stamped therefrom. When stamped, said bayonet clip 30 comprises a protrusive tongue member 32 extending outwardly from said wall 24 at 33 in the same horizontal plane of the rails 12 and 14 and along the center line thereof, as shown in FIG. 2. To provide a spring tension to tongue 32, a slight arcuate bend is formed at 34, as shown in FIG. 1. As the drawer having the slide device operably secured thereto is inserted in the cabinet, said protruding tongue member 32,having an outward projection at 36, is received within a slotted opening 38 disposed in a portion of the frame member 40 of the cabinet, or the like. Hence, the drawer, at this point, is removably supported by bayonet clip 30. However, it is also necessary to provide a means, as at 42, for limiting the rearward movement of said slide. This means comprises a lip member centrally disposed in tongue 32 in the area of bend 33, said lip being stamped therefrom to project outwardly a suitable distance, whereby the free edge 44 of lip 42 makes a positive contact with the rear, vertical edge 46 of slot 38. Hence, at this point, the bayonet clip 50, adjacent the front end 26 of slide rail 14, is positioned for reception in a second slot 52 in frame 40. The drawer is then lowered, allowing the tongue 54 of clip 50 to engage slot 52. This is accomplished because the tongue 54 of this clip is stamped from rail 14 in a depending manner at right angles to the center line (See FIG. 2.), said tongue member 54 being formed in a like manner to that'of tongue 32, in which said tongue 54 extends outwardly from the surface of wall 24 and is provided with an arcuate portion 56 whereby tension-engaging action takes place between said tongue and said wall or frame 40 of the cabinet. Again, there 7 is a need to limit the movement of said rail 14 at this point and, therefore, a'limiting means is disposed in clip 50, as indicated by lip 58. Said lip extends downwardly, normal to the plane of the center line of rail 14, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. The length of lip 58 is limited. That is, it extends downwardly to a point where free edge 59 contacts the lower edge 60 of the slot 52, said lower edge 60 being disposed along the center line, causing drawer-and-slide device 10 to lie in a level plane to that of the cabinet or desk where it is supported therein.

Thus, rearward movement of slide 10 is prevented by lip member 42; downward movement is prevented by lip member 58 of clip 50; and any forward movement, when the drawer is fully opened, is stopped by edge 62 of clip 54 engaging vertical edge 64 of slot 52.

It, therefore, can be seen that, when the drawer is required to be removed from a cabinet or the like, the drawer is lifted upwardly, disengaging beyonet clip 50 and then pulling said drawer outwardly until bayonet clip is disengaged from slot 38.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, in which an alternative arrangement of bayonet clip is shown, this arrangement for the quick-connect and disconnect operation is identical to that previously described. However, bayonet clips and 72 comprise a tongue 74 which is spring loaded by the arcuate portion 75. Said tongue 74 is centrally disposed between oppositely-disposed, limiting, lip members 76. Bayonet clip 70 corresponds to bayonet clip 30 in that it is positioned adjacent the rear end of rail 14; and clip 72 corresponds, in retrospect, to clip 50 of the first arrangement. That is, clip 70 is disposed horizontally to the center line, and clip 72 is disposed vertically and normal to the center line.

The invention and its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the partsof the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof or sacrificing its material advantages, the arrangement hereinbefore described being merely by way of example, and I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or usesmentioned, except as defined in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A quick disconnect mounting means in combination with a drawer slide device having operably disposed, interconnected rails received within a cabinet or the like frame, said mounting means comprising:

a first bayonet clip formed as an integral part of one of said rails in a horizontal plane thereto at one end thereof;

said rail in a vertical plane thereto and disposed at the opposite end of said first bayonet clip; said first bayonet clip includes means for limiting rearward movement of said rails, and said second bayonet clip includes means for limiting downward movement of said second clip; said limiting means of said first and second clips comprising at least one adjacent lip member which has a free end for direct engagement with said frame. 2. A quick-disconnect mounting means as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said bayonet clips comprises a protruding tongue member having an arcuate bend to a second bayonet clip formed as an integral part of i provide a spring tension therein when connected to said frame.

3. A quick-disconnect mounting means as recited in claim 2, wherein said lip member of each bayonet clip is centrally disposed within said tongue member and positioned in the same plane as that of its related tongue member thereof.

4. A quick-disconnect mounting means as recited in claim 2, wherein said limiting means of said first and second bayonet clips comprises a pair of lip members, each oppositely disposed on adjacent sides of said protruding tongue members, each of said lip members being formed in the same plane relative to the adjacent tongue member.

5. A sliding drawer device comprising:

a first elongated rail for securing to a drawer;

a second elongated rail operably connected to said first rail;

bearing means disposed between said first and sec- 0nd rails for relative movement between each of said rails; and

a pair of bayonet clips formed as an integral part of said second rail and stamped therefrom;

independent lips which have a free end portion for limiting movement of said second rail from downward or rearward movement when said second rail is in place.

6. A sliding-drawer device as recited in claim 5, wherein one of said bayonet clips is disposed in a horizontal plane to that of said second rail and disposed at one end thereof, and wherein the other bayonet clip is disposed at the opposite end of said rail in vertical position relative to the plane of said second rail.

7. A sliding-drawer device as recited in claim 6, wherein said limiting means comprises a lip member centrally disposed within said bayonet clip.

8. A sliding-drawer device as recited in claim 6, wherein said limiting means comprises a pair of lip members, each being oppositely disposed adjacent said bayonet clips. 

1. A quick disconnect mounting means in combination with a drawer slide device having operably disposed, interconnected rails received within a cabinet or the like frame, said mounting means comprising: a first bayonet clip formed as an integral part of one of said rails in a horizontal plane thereto at one end thereof; a second bayonet clip formed as an integral part of said rail in a vertical plane thereto and disposed at the opposite end of said first bayonet clip; said first bayonet clip includes means for limiting rearward movement of said rails, and said second bayonet clip includes means for limiting downward movement of said second clip; said limiting means of said first and second clips comprising at least one adjacent lip member which has a free end for direct engagement with said frame.
 2. A quick-disconnect mounting means as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said bayonet clips comprises a protruding tongue member having an arcuate bend to provide a spring tension therein when connected to said frame.
 3. A quick-disconnect mounting means as recited in claim 2, wherein said lip member of each bayonet clip is centrally disposed within said tongue member and positioned in the same plane as that of its related tongue member thereof.
 4. A quick-disconnect mounting means as recited in claim 2, wherein said limiting means of said first and second bayonet clips comprises a pair of lip members, each oppositely disposed on adjacent sides of said protruding tongue members, each of said lip members being formed in the same plane relative to the adjacent tongue member.
 5. A sliding drawer device comprising: a first elongated rail for securing to a drawer; a second elongated rail operably connected to said first rail; bearing means disposed between said first and second rails for relative movement between each of said rails; and a pair of bayonet clips formed as an integral part of said second rail and stamped therefrom; independent lips which have a free end portion for limiting movement of said second rail from downward or rearward movement when said second rail is iN place.
 6. A sliding-drawer device as recited in claim 5, wherein one of said bayonet clips is disposed in a horizontal plane to that of said second rail and disposed at one end thereof, and wherein the other bayonet clip is disposed at the opposite end of said rail in vertical position relative to the plane of said second rail.
 7. A sliding-drawer device as recited in claim 6, wherein said limiting means comprises a lip member centrally disposed within said bayonet clip.
 8. A sliding-drawer device as recited in claim 6, wherein said limiting means comprises a pair of lip members, each being oppositely disposed adjacent said bayonet clips. 